Hebrews
4:12
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints
from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the
heart.
Isaiah
55:11
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return
to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
When
I was with Presbyterian Women in India last October, I had a brief
conversation with a woman who taught university courses on the Bible
as literature. Most of her students were not Christian (only about
2.3% of Indians identify themselves as Christian). She told me that
occasionally students would express their concern that the text
seemed to be speaking to them. Was this book supposed to do that?
We smiled as we talked because we know that the Bible does speak to
us.
I
am sorry to say that I am too disorganized to practice daily
devotions. The internet kindly provides me a daily reminder, though,
through a subscription to the daily lectionary
(http://pcusa.org/subscriptions/lists/daily-lectionary/).
Sometimes I'm too busy to read the message in those emails, but when
I open one, I often find scripture speaking to me. And I stop and
remember that I am a child of God. I am reminded again ...
- to be thankful every day
- to treasure the gift of faith that comes from God, nurtured by my family and my church
- to see good and to see God in everyone
- to remember my obligation to care for all of God's creation and all of God’s creatures
- but most of all, to feel my connection to this living Word, this Word that became flesh and dwelt (and continues to dwell) among us.
Lord,
Your word
is a lamp
to my feet and a light to my path. Continue to remind me every day
to seek your word in scripture. Help me to hear and respond to your
word so that it does not return to you empty. Amen.
Charlotte
Fischer
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